About this project

Play Board Game Cafe is a new family friendly, youth oriented entertainment option that I want to open up within our wonderful community of Beaumont, Alberta. For the past several years, I have been working towards the idea of running a space to bring people together in community around a table. I have hosted countless game nights and several annual parties in which I host as many people as I can gather to spend the day getting to know each other and learning new games. All of that time and effort culminates in Play.

Game night at my place

With Play, I am creating a home-like environment in which people can gather together around a table with a game with a hot cup of coffee or tea, even meeting new people if they so choose. Nestled in the town of Beaumont, Play offers a closer alternative to the people of Leduc County and South Edmonton than the other Board Game Cafes in the area. It also offers a unique atmosphere by utilizing used furniture from the era of analogue entertainment (think old wooden tables and chairs, and the entertainment units and shelving from before television was the focus of the house.) In using this furniture as the primary seating and shelving I invite people into a "home" for the community.

Example of Furniture

So, what will this actually look like? Upon entry into Play, you will check in and choose a table. Each table will come with two items on it. The first is what I call the “Player Marker” and it is the Green/Red sided work in the picture below. If the Player Marker is Green, that means that the table is either a) empty and available for you to take, or b) has people there who are welcome to having new players join them. If the marker is turned to Red, then the players are not looking to add any new players.

Player Markers

Once you have a table, you will find two walls with games. The one will have simple shelving containing games for sale. You can browse those games and if any catch your eye and you want to purchase them, you may. The other wall will contain some special shelving (old armoires, buffets, entertainment units, etc.) that will feature several games that are available for you to take to your table and play.

Games!

There are several types of games available, including an extensive family section that will contain games for kids as young as age 3. It is my hope that families will find this a welcoming place to enjoy an evening out, and to help drive this, Wednesday night will be Family Fun Night in which there will be special deals for families that come out.

Another way to encourage people to engage with each other and with the games that I will be testing out relates to the little basket that you can see in the picture below. Each table will have a basket like this with a note outlining what to do. Simply put, this will be a place to set any electronic devices in. Anyone who does that and takes the basket to the front counter can get a free hot beverage. If there are kids at the table with adults (and the kids do not have electronic devices), then they also can get a free hot beverage, like hot chocolate. Each basket brought in will be traded for a chit with the corresponding chit. The basket will be put into a locked cabinet until you check out, at which point the devices will be returned to you.

Device Basket

The money from the Kickstarter will help me secure and furnish a location as well as start paying my to-be employees. If we hit the first stretch goal of $12,500, I will increase my game collection from 74 to 200 that are available to play.

Risks and challenges

With opening any business in a small town, there are inherent risks. The primary risk is that there will not be enough business to support the cost of keeping the doors open. To deal with this, I will be starting off with a small staff of people who love bringing people together around the table over a board game. I will personally be working all hours that we are open (plus any extra that is needed) and will not be taking much of a salary until we are established. My first priority is to make sure that this business becomes established and is able to pay the bills before I take a profit.
Another risk is related to direct competition. There are three board game cafes in Edmonton itself as well as one in Sherwood Park and another in St Albert. While those are in the area, they are still quite a distance away. In opening up in Beaumont, I will be able to allow the people of Leduc County and South Edmonton easy access to a unique gaming atmosphere that requires less travel time to enjoy.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 25 or more
About $19

Beginner's Experience - Limited

For your contribution, you will receive five free admissions to the cafe (transferable) as well as your name on display in our store.
Also, for being one of the first to donate at this tier, you will receive a personalized invitation to our soft launch which will be closed to the public.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 50 or more
About $39

Casual Experience - Limited

For your contribution, you will receive ten free admissions to the cafe (transferable) as well as your name on display in our store.
Also, for being one of the first to donate at this tier, you will receive a personalized invitation to our soft launch which will be closed to the public.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 100 or more
About $78

Experienced Experience

For your contribution, you will receive fifteen free admissions to the cafe (transferable) as well as your name on display in our store.
People who give at this level also receive a mug with Play's logo on it to enjoy a hot beverage at your home.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 100 or more
About $78

Experienced Experience - Limited

For your contribution, you will receive fifteen free admissions to the cafe (transferable) as well as your name on display in our store.
People who give at this level also receive a mug with Play's logo on it to enjoy a hot beverage at your home.
Also, for being one of the first to donate at this tier, you will receive a personalized invitation to our soft launch which will be closed to the public.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 250 or more
About $194

Expert Experience - Limited

For your contribution, you will receive twenty free admissions to the cafe (transferable) as well as your name on display in our store.
People who give at this level also receive a mug with Play's logo on it to enjoy a hot beverage at your home.
You will also receive a hoodie with Play's logo embroidered onto it for contributing at this level.
Also, for being one of the first to donate at this tier, you will receive a personalized invitation to our soft launch which will be closed to the public.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 250 or more
About $194

Expert Experience

For your contribution, you will receive twenty free admissions to the cafe (transferable) as well as your name on display in our store.
People who give at this level also receive a mug with Play's logo on it to enjoy a hot beverage at your home.
You will also receive a hoodie with Play's logo embroidered onto it for contributing at this level.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 400 or more
About $310

Preferred Experience

For your contribution, you will receive thirty free admissions to the cafe (transferable) as well as your name on display in our store.
People who give at this level also receive a mug with Play's logo on it to enjoy a hot beverage at your home.
You will also receive a hoodie with Play's logo embroidered onto it for contributing at this level.
You will also be able to have first priority for table reservations.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 600 or more
About $465

Ultimate Experience

For your contribution, you will receive forty free admissions to the cafe (transferable) as well as your name on display in our store.
People who give at this level also receive a mug with Play's logo on it to enjoy a hot beverage at your home.
You will also receive a hoodie with Play's logo embroidered onto it for contributing at this level.
You will also be able to have first priority for table reservations.
On top of this, you will get to name one of our menu items.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 1,000 or more
About $775

Annual Membership

This contribution earns you a membership card which entitles you to one full year of free admission as well as special deals through the year.
You will also receive a personalized invitation to our soft launch as well as your name on display in our store.
You will also have priority when booking a table reservation.